About the Author

Read a New York Times profile about Charles Portis, which describes his eluding of public life and his writing's characteristic deadpan humor: "Mr. Portis evokes an eccentric, absurd world with a completely straight face. As a result there are not a lot of laugh-out-loud moments or explosive set pieces here. Instead of shooting off fireworks the books shimmer with a continuous comic glow."

Six-Gun Tarot, by R. S. Belcher - if you like a little Weird in your West, try this thriller that combines supernatural elements with a classic Western atmosphere. If you like this one and are ready for more werewolves in your Western, try The Guns of Santa Sangre, by Eric Red

Cheyenne Autumn[link] (movie licensing) (on order) - John Ford's last Western, this 1964 epic portrays the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878-9, and the mistreatment of Native Americans during that time.

Dances with Wolves[link] (movie licensing) - Based on the 1988 novel by Michael Blake [link], this film garnered many awards in 1990 and revitalized the Western genre. Kevin Costner plays a Union soldier who becomes involved with the Lakota Sioux when he is stationed at a frontier outpost.

Django Unchained[link] - The most recent take on a classic tale of revenge and adventure with Western flair, Quentin Tarantino directed this ultra-violent 2012 award winner.

The Outlaw Josey Wales[link] (on order) - Based on the novel "Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales" by Forrest Carter, this 1976 film features Clint Eastwood as a Civil War veteran driven to avenge the murder of his wife and son.

Open Range[link] (on order) - Kevin Costner plays a Civil War veteran - turned cowboy fighting a corrupt Marshall in this 2003 Western romance based on the novel "The Open Range Men" by Lauran Paine.

The Quick and the Dead[link] (on order) - Sharon Stone plays a female gunslinger avenging her father in this modern Western.

The Searchers[link] (movie licensing) (replacement on order) - In this 1956 classic, John Wayne is an ex-Confederate soldier searching for his niece, who has been captured by Comanches.

Shoot Out[link] (on order) - Gregory Peck stars in this 1971 tale of an outlaw saddled with the responsibility of looking after a feisty orphan girl. Made by the same team that made the 1969 John Wayne version of "True Grit"[link], and features many of the same locations.

Unforgiven[link] (1992) (movie licensing) - In 1992, Clint Eastwood re-examined the romanticization of the Western film genre with this Academy Award Best Picture winner about an aging outlaw asked to kill again.

Television Series

Justified[link] - based on stories and characters from Elmore Leonard [link], this series features US marshals in modern-day Kentucky.

Documentaries

The Real West[link] - 4 disc documentary series

Wild Horse, Wild Ride[link] - documentary to show? (on order)

Books for Teens

Fiction

Shane, by Jack Schaefer

The Legend of Bass Reeves, by Gary Paulsen

Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson, and its sequel Hattie Ever After

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, by Karen Cushman

Black Storm Comin', by Diane Lee Wilson

Ghetto Cowboy, by G. Neri

The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones, by Jelen Hemphill

Another Kind of Cowboy, by Susan Juby

Nonfiction

Venom, by Marilyn Singer

Books for Youth

Wild West - Fiction for Older Children

Case of the Deadly Desperadoes, by Caroline Lawrence

Alice Rose & Sam, by Kathryn Lasky

Danger at the Wild West Show by Alison Hart (American Girl: History Mysteries)

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach, and its sequel: Treasure on Superstition Mountain